Thursday, November 11, 2010

Tribute to true heroes

Today is Remembrance Day in Canada and Veteran's Day in the US. I'm very proud of my heritage as a Canadian, and I am also very grateful for the great country that America is and that I will be able to become a citizen here as well. One of the greatest things about these countries is the freedom that we have. Without the men and women who have served and are serving in the military, we wouldn't have this freedom. Another great thing about these people is that they have also sacrificed for the sake of not only their own countries and families but for those in other lands. I have a great appreciation and respect for our veterans and current soldiers who give so much of themselves for the sake of others. I also have a great respect for the families- especially wives- of the men that are currently serving. That would be so hard for me. It's not only the soldiers who are giving up a lot.

My Great Uncle Gibb is one man that gave everything to serve his country. One of my relatives wrote this dedication to him and others who fought during World War II:

"My name is Thomas E Evanson, named after my grandfather Thomas T. Mendenhall. I am the son of John and Rae Mendenhall Evanson, Rae being an older sister to Gibb... I was born 5 years after Uncle Gibb was shot down at 01:55 hrs on the 21st of February 1945 over Oberhausen, Germany. For over 50 years I have lived in prosperity and peace. This was largely due to the sacrifice he, along with thousands of others, made. Gibb never had the chance to see the results of his sacrifice, nor did he have the opportunity to marry and raise a family in this life. Those of us who have lived after and continue to live in peace need to remember “Wells Gibb Mendenhall”."

My sister posted some very nice Remembrance Day videos on her blog. You can find them here if you would like to watch them.

Probably the most famous war poem in Canada is In Flanders Fields. It was written by Canadian Lieutenant John McCrae in 1915 the day after he witnessed the death of his friend Lieutenant Alexis Helmer.

In Flanders Fields by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.